title: Cu-Zn powders as potential Cr(VI) adsorbents for drinking water.
abstract: This work examines the possibility of applying CuZn alloys as a reducing medium for the efficient removal of hexavalent chromium from drinking water. In an effort to develop a route for producing powders of CuZn alloys under mild conditions and investigate the optimum composition for such application, a series of alloys in the form of powders were prepared, by a sequence of Cu and Zn ball-milling and low temperature annealing. Batch Cr(VI) removal tests, performed to evaluate and compare the efficiency of the products under typical natural water parameters (pH 7 and natural-like water), indicated that the best performing material have a composition around 50 wt% Cu. The dominant reduction mechanisms are both the corrosion of the alloy surface and the electron transfer to the solution. The behavior of granulated CuZn media was tested in rapid-scale column tests using the commercial KDF which verified the high potential of CuZn alloys in Cr(VI) removal. Nevertheless, Cu and Zn leaching problems should be also considered.
authors.affiliation: Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaprara
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seridou
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tsiamili
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitrakas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vourlias
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsiaoussis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaimakamis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pavlidou
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Andritsos
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Simeonidis
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys / Q000737:chemistry*; D002857:Chromium / Q000737:chemistry*; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D060766:Drinking Water; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011208:Powders; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D060766:Drinking Water; D011208:Powders; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002857:Chromium; C074702:chromium hexavalent ion; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Ball-milling; CuZn alloys; Drinking water; Hexavalent chromium; Nanopowders